Loading machine



May 29, 1945. E. M. ARENTZEN LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 20,1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 .MMA SWR? ne# IIJ Q fumml mimi il +R SMN 1 May 29,1945 E. M. ARENTZEN K 2376,85?

LOADING MACHINE Y Original Filed Aug. 20, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 29,1945. E. M. ARENTZEN LOADING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original FiledAug. 20, 1941 May 29, 1945. E. M. AREN'rzL-:N

LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 20, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 29,1945.

E. M. ARENTZEN LOADING MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 20,1941 www www SHQ Patented Nay 29, 1945 2,376,857 f LOADING MACHINE EinarM. Arentzen, Charleroi, Pa., assigner to Joy Manufacturing Company,Franklin, Pa., a. corporation of Pennsylvania Original applicationAugust 20, 1941, Serial No.

407,525, now Patent No. 2,338,160, dated January 4, 1944. Divided andthis application November 27, 1943, Serial No. 511,936

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements `in loading machines particularlyadapted for gathering and loading coal at the working face of a mine.This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No.407,525, filed August 20, 1941, now Patent No. 2,338,160 granted January4, 1944, for Loading machine.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a simple and eflicientmachine of the character described. A further object of the invention isto provide an improved construction and mounting for thematerial-discharge conveyor at the rear of the machine to facilitate theelevation and lateral swinging movement thereof. Other objects of theinvention will appear from time to time as the following descriptionproceeds.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a loadingmachine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is `an enlarged transverse section taken along ythe front axle ofthe machine and looking rearwardly thereof;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken along the rear axle of the machineand looking rearwardly thereof;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing the chain driveconnections for the gathering arms and mat conveyor;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View showing details of thedischarge conveyor in the zone of its articulated connection; with therear conveyor section swung toward one side of the machine; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken longitudinally of the machine,showing details of the articulated connection of the discharge conveyorand the fluid-operated elevating mechanism therefor.

In the embodiment of the-invention illustrated in the drawings, theloading machine consists generally of a Wheel-supported main frame I0havingk a gathering head indicated at I I pivotally connectedr on atransverse axis lat the front end thereof and having an elevating anddischarge conveyorI2 extending `rearwardly from the gathering head andprojecting beyond .the rear end of the main frame fork discharge intomine cars or the like. .In the preferred form shown, the wheeledsupports consist of front and rear pairs of pneumatic tired wheels I3,I3 and I4, I4,.re spectively. Both front and rear wheels are powerdriven, and are also arranged for steering the vehicle so as tofacilitate .the maneuvering of the latter in limited spaces such asarecommonly encountered in coal mines.

The gathering or loading head II includes a pair of gathering devicesI5. I5 having a gathering motion somewhat similar to that heretoforeemployed in familiar Joy type loading machines, but said arms cooperatein a novel manner with an endless mat type conveyor I6 extending to thefront edge of the gathering head so as to provide an improved gatheringaction covering a wider gathering area thanhas heretofore been possiblewith gathering heads of similar character. i

Referring now to details of the machine illustrated in the drawings, themain frame I0 consisbs of a pair of side frame members 20, 20 hereinconsisting of upright plates extending lengthwise ofthe vehicle andsupported on vfront and rear drop-axle structures indicated at 2| and22, respectively, designed to give an especially low-slung body.

In the form shown herein, said drop-axle structures and the steeredwheel mountings and drive means associated therewith are similarto thoseemployed in the co-pending applications of Arthur L. Lee, bearing SerialNos. 383,329 and 383,331, both filed March 14, 1941. The rst of theseapplications is now Patent No. 2,317,623

granted April 27, 1943. The front wheels I3, I3 are pivoted for steeringon universal drive mountings indicated generally at 23, 23, whichmountings are driven' through horizontal shafts journaled in uprightdrive gear housings 25, 25 mounted on the opposite ends of an axlemember 26 (see Fig. 3). Said axle member is in the form of a relativelyflat metal slab and is arranged for equalizing action wherein the axlemember 26 extends through an elongated housing 3| which is rockablymounted on a pivot pin 32 mounted centrally of the frame between a pairof transverse supporting plates 33, 33 connected between the side framemembers 20, 20, as shown in Fig. '3. The pivot pin 32 engages the upperface of the axle.26 at its center point, so as to permit limited lateralrocking movement of 'the axle structure, thereby providing in effect athree-point suspension of the main frame. It will also be noted that theaxle 26 is loosely fitted within the housing 3l so as to permit limitedflexing of said axle member under varying loads.

The rear wheels I4, I4 are also vmounted for steering on universal drivemountings 21, 21,

which mountings are driven through horizontal shafts journaled inupright drive gear housings 29, 29 at opposite ends of a fiat drop-axlemem ber 30. The latter member has the side frame members 20, 28supported thereon adjacent its ends, so as .to permit limited flexing ofsaid axle member under varying loads, as described and l l claimed inthe Lee applications previously re` ferred to.

The gathering or loading head II is disposed as usual at the front endof the vehicle and includes a frame I1 having twoupright, laterallyspaced side plates 34, 34, each having an upward` ly and rearwardlyinclined gathering plate 35 connected along its upper edge and extendingout` wardly therefrom. Said loading head is pivotal-` ly connected tothe front ends of the main frame members 20, by rearward extensions34a,` 34a on side plates 34, 34. Pivotal adjustment of the gatheringhead is controlled by a pair of fluid motor devices, such as hydrauliccylinders I8, I8v mounted on opposite sides of Y, the main frame members20, 20 and having their pistons I8a, I8a pivotally connected toupstanding wings34b, 34h at the rear ends ofthe gathering plates 35, 35.Hydraulic pressure may be supplied as usual to the cylinders I8, I8under` control of suitable valves (not shown). l

The mat conveyor I6 includes an endless belt' like steel conveyorstructure disposed between the side frame plates 34, 34, and having itsup-` per carrying surface substantially in the same plane as thegathering plates 35, 35. As herein shown, said conveyor structure ismade up of a plurality of chain-like, U-shape links.

lThe upper reach of the mat conveyor I6 is supported for movement alonga deck plate rigf idly secured between the upright side plates 34, 34.Said mat passes/over a transverse bearing bar 4I of relatively smalldiameter secured be tween the side plates 34, 34 close to the front ofthe gathering head, so that themat presents a relatively sharp,wedge-like digging edge which may be projected into direct operativeengagement beneath the material being loaded.

The conveyory I6 is driven by a motor 52 mounted centrally of the mainframe through the following dive connections:

The motor 52 has an armature shaft connected by coupling shaft 53 toreduction gears and al l about, and driven by,.shaft 60, as willhereinafter more fully appear. Said shaft also has a sprocket 6I keyednear one end thereof, and engaged by a. chain 62 which extends forwardlyabout a sprocket 63 keyed on the shaft 49a by whichV the mat conveyor isdriven. The drive chains 58 and 62 may pass over the usual tension,- ingidler sprockets 58a and 62a, respectively.

In the preferred arrangement illustrated herein, the transmission casing55 has one end detachably mounted on an upstanding bracket 64 disposedbetween vthe side frame plates 20, 20. The power delivery end of saidcasing is mounted in an aperture 55a formed in one of said side framemembers and has an end flange 65h thereon which is detachably bolted tothe exterior of said side frame member. The casing also has a removablebearing member for the coupling shaft 53 connected to the motor. Withthis arrangement, the entire transmission casing can be bodily withdrawnlaterally through the aperture 55a, after the bearing member andcoupling shaft 53 have been detached and the bolted connectving means tothe frame has been removed.

kThe gathering devices I5, I5, as previously mentioned, includegathering arms 65, 65, generally of the Joy type, but in the presentinstance the motion of said gathering arms is modified to provide animproved arrangement and operation in conjunction with the mat conveyorI6. Said arms each includer a pick or claw 66 curved at its outer endand having a plurality of teeth 61, 61 thereon. Arm 65 has pivotalconnection with a crank pin carried on the edge of a rotary disc 10mounted on a gathering plate 35 at each side of the mat I6. In the formshown,v the crank. pin

is journaled in a bearing housing 1I on each arm 65. Each of said armsalso has a rearwardly extending curved guide bar 12 which has suitablesliding engagement with a swivel pin 13 mounted on the gathering plate35 to the rear of 'the adjacent disc 10. A block 13a, pivotally mountedon swivel piny 13, is slidable along a downwardly-opening guide slot 12aformed along each guide bar 12. Each of said guide bars also has anupstanding rib 14 therealong, to assist in directing the material towardand along the mat I6, as will presently appear.

The rotary discs 10 each have a depending shaft journaled in the gearhousing 42 rigidly mounted beneath the adjacent gathering plate 35. Inthese gear housings the depending shafts of discs 10 are operativelyconnected to shaft 49a (Fig. 5) which is driven from motor 52 throughthe driving mechanism for the mat conveyor I6.

so that the gathering arms are driven simultane-V ously with said matconveyor.

The inclined gathering plates 35 are preferably arranged at a slightlysteeper angle adjacent the front of the gathering head, the change inirrclination of said plates occurring along a trans verse lineapproximately intersecting the axes of the rotary discs 10. With thisarrangement, it will be observed that the rear half of each rotary discis -countersunk in its respective gathering plate 35 along curved lines18, 18, so that the upper surface of said discs are substantially flushwith the adjacent surface of the plate 35 to the rear of said disc,while the front edge of each disc extends at a slight angleabo've theadjacent surface of said plate.

It will be observed in Fig. 2 that rotation of the discs 10, while theguide bars 12 of arms 65 are'y slidably and rockably' engaged with theswivel pins 13, causes the outer ends of picks 66 to move in theirregular orbital paths indicated in dotted lines in said figure. Thesetwo paths are generally reniform or kidney-shaped and enclose What'iscommonly termed the gathering area of the arms. 'Ihe gathering arms 65,65 are arranged only, to engage and move the loose material inwardly ina generally transverse direction toward the opposite sides of the matI6, so that said material will be picked up and loaded out by thelatter.

The discharge conveyor I2 is .generally of trough-'like form with anendless ight type conveyor member movable therealong, consisting of acentrally disposed continuous chain having a plurality o! laterallyextending nights 8|, 8| thereon. In the ferm shown herein, the conveyorIl consists vof three aligned sections alongwhich the upper and lowerreaches o! chain 80 extend continuously. The iront section 82 has upperand lower deck plates 88 and It rigidly mounted between the'sidemembers, 28 oi' base, i8. 'I'he second conveyor section 8l has sidewalls 88, 88 and upper and lower deck plates" and 88. and ispivotallyconnectedtoapivotrodll attherear end o'f the front section 82,to permit vertical ad- Justment of the second conveyor section Il rela-ltive to the iront section 82. The third or rear conveyor section 80 ismounted i'or verticaladiustment with the second section 8l, but anarticulated connectlon is provided between the second and third sectionsto permit lateral swinging adjustment oi' the third section, fordischarging material at opposite sides of the machine, as willpresentlybe descrlbedin detail. i.

The upper strand ofthe' conveyor chain 80 moves rearwardly along theupper deck plate 88 of the front conveyor section 82 and the lowerstrand returns on the lower deck plate Il, as shown in Fig. 3.` Saidconveyor chain ls driven by a drive sprocket keyed on shai't Il which,as previously described, is Journaled'in the front ends .ot the sideframe members-2l concentric with the pivotal axis of the gathering headIl, and is driven from the motor l2 through chain ll.

The rear conveyor section 88 has side walls 80,

8l and upper and lower deck plates 8| and 82.A

An vidler shaft 88 is rotatably mounted at the rear end of said rearsection about which the conveyor chain 88 is trained, as usual,

The articulated connection between conveyor sections 8l and 8l is of thesame type shown in Arentzen Patent No. 1,785,402, but in the present belater described indetta. In the :crm shown herein, the jack sleevey Ilis formed integrally with and depends from a supporting bracket 80connected to the lower deck plate 82 oi the rear section and extendsbeneath the rear endofthev widened lower deck portion 88a of conveyorsec-l tion 8l, as shownin Fig. 7. A cooperating. supe. porting bracket|00 is secured to the lower surface of the deck plate 88 of conveyorysection 8l. and has a depending bearing ring |8| surrounding the lowerend of the cylindrical Jack sleeve 88. In the form shown, the bearingring |0| is dlvided on a transverse plane, with a semicircular rear half|02 having detachable ilanged connection with thev front half, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. '1.

With the lower deck platearrangement disclosed, it will be observed thatfor simplicity and economy in construction, the upper surfaces oi' therear deck plate 82 and its spporting bracket 88 are in a lower planethan the rear end of the widened front deck'portion 88a, instead ofhaving the abutting portions 0i' said lower deck plate ilush with eachother, as in the ease with the upperdeck plates. of the lower plates isrelatively unimportant, howver, since the latter plates only serve tosupport the return strand of the conveyor chain 80, which readily ridesupwardly over the rear edge of the 80 front deck plate, as shown in Fig.'1.

As will be seen from Figs. 2 and 6, the side walls 80 of the conveyorsection 85 are continued -along opposite sides of the widened lower decksection 88a, and are ilared outwardly at |08, |08. 'l'he side walls '80of the rear section 88 rare also ilared outwardly at |08, |08, leaving agapalong opposite :sides of both deck plates 8| and 82,.between theadjacent ends of said flared side wall portions at bothsides of theconveyor, to

instance it includes an improved arrangement for` 40 permitthe desiredpivotal swinging movement of guiding the return strand of the conveyorchain, and 'it is also combined with an improved fluid operatedelevating mechanism y'for the conveyor sections 8i and 88, as shown indetail in Figs. 4.,

6, and?.

Therear ends of the upper and lower deck plates 81. and 88 of theconveyor section 88 are both widened and terminate along circular edgesto form-similar enlarged deck members 81a and 88a respectively. The' twocircular-deck members each have coaxial pivotal connection with thecorresponding deck plates of the rear conveyor section 88. In the formshown herein, the pivotal connection for the `upper deck plates consistsof an upright pivot pin 84 extending between-v the front deck'plate 81aand a supporting bracket 8l secured yto itsunder face in spaced relationtherefrom, and pivotally engaged by an annular bearing ring 88 carried.-on the front end of a,

supporting plate 81 which is rigidly secured, as by welding, to theunder iace of the upper deck plate 8| of the rear section 88,:beneaththe rear end of the front deck member 81a (see Fig. '1). The abuttingend of the upper `deck plate 0| is also widened and terminates in aconcave arc concentric with the 'pivot pin 84, so that the uppersurfaces of the upper deck plates 81 and 0| are iiushfwith each other toail'ord uninterrupted movement ofthe conveyor chain. and the matey rialcarried thereby. in all positions of lateral swinging movement oi' therear section 88.

The lower deck plates 8l and 8 2 are pivotally connected about anupright cylindrical Jack sleeve 88 concentric with the pivot pin 84.Said Ilack sleeve contains a nuid operating jack device to hanging guidemembers |08, |08 mounted on thel walls 80, of the rear section 88. 'I'hearrangement is such that the flexible wall members |01, |01 will ilexlaterally in all positions of pivotal adjustment of the rear conveyorsection to form a guide for the ends of the conveyor nights 8|, 8| alongthe upper deck plates 81 and 8| in the zone of turning movement of thelatter, as shown in Fig. 6.

It`wil1 especially be noted -thatby reason oi' the nared wall portions|05 and I 08along oppoV site sides of the lower deck plates 88 and 82,respectively, the lower or return strand of the conveyor is also guidedlaterally in its return movem'ent in all vpositions of swingingadjustment oir the rear conveyor section. yWhen ysaid rear conveyor isswung to its extreme position toward one side of` the machine, as shownin full lines in Fig. 6 (approximately 45), the.

gap between the adjacent ,ends of the ilared wall portions |05 and |08will be entirely closed at one side oi' the conveyor so as `to form acontinuous curved guiding surface i'or the adjacent ends of the conveyorflights 8|, which always tend to engage the side with the Thisdifference in elevationl 4 v aardse? shorter radius. Whenthe rearsection is adjusting bracket |08 (see Fig. 1). The upper vend o! ed atany intermediate angie, asy indicatedin dotted lines iii-the sameiigure, the ends ofthe; i conveyor fiig'hts'which bear on the ilaredwall 1 portionsy |88 and |88, will be guided along a tangentialpathwhich is removed inwardly of the open "gapibetween the-ends of said.flared wall portions. This feature constitutes' animprove; ment; ove'rAprevious conveyor structures of this general character, wherein no'provision is made for-guidingthe lower or return strand of the conveyor,with the result thatl the ends ofl the con-` veyor flights 'tend .tointerfere with'the ends lof `the sidewalls lat the open gap formedtherebetween, andmoreover the conveyor chain has an objectionabletendency tobecome slackwhen the rear`r section is swung laterally. 'Withmy improved construction, the conveyor chain moves smoothly andis-maintainedat substantially'uniform tension in all positions o1'the'swinging rear section.,y Y Q As-an additional-'means yfor centeringthe conveyor chain 88 in its troughpcentrally disposed 1 guidey ribs ||0and may be provided along the uppersurfaces of both deck plates ofconveyor sections, 82 rand 85, respectively, which ribs are engagedbetween thev side links of the chain, as

show n in Figs. 3 and 7. vThe'ribs v| on section ing zonebetween saidsection and the rear section, as Ashown 'in Figs.' 2 and 7. Similarguide ribs I|2 may also tbe provided along the deck` plates 8| and 82`of the rearv conveyor section 89.

The rear section 89 is swung laterally by uid ,means, hereinconsistingof a pair of longitudi- .l nally disposed hydraulic cylinders ||8,-II8piv-j otally, connected at their bases to opposite sides of a crossmember |80a of the supporting bracket |80 beneath the conveyor section85, and having? their respective piston rods-||9 pivotallyconof theconveyor is preferably swung in one di` rection or the other by exertingrearward pres sure on the proper Apiston rod, whereby such rearwardLpressure tendsv to counteract the normali forward stress exerted by theconveyor chain on the y.pivotal members 98 and 89. `Thus less power isrequired to swing the rear conveyor section than is the caseiwithprevious constructions, in` which the swinging section is actuated bypulling one `or the other side of the conveyor toward the front vof themachine. l

A fluid jack device forbodilyvelevating the conl veyor sections 88 and89 is contained within the', sleeve 98 whichas-previously mentioned,forms? 1 the pivotal axis for the supporting bracket 991` relative tobracket |80. Said jackdevice includes inner and outer cylinders `I I8and ||8, which are mounted for telescopic movement relative to each*other' within the bore of the sleeve 98. The lower` ;V end of the innercylinder I|8 'rests on a crss brace "III8 rigidly. connected betweenthef sidey frame members 20, 28, as shown in Figs. 4 and '1,\y so thatthe conveyor sections 85 and l89 are, in` eiect, fluid` supported in their various positions of verticaladjustment. -The lower'end of theouter jack cylinder ||9` extends through a sealing ring |20 having kvapacking gland |2| therein and detachabl'y connected to the lower end ofthe jack sleeve 88. In* 1 the forml shown.' said sealing ring projectsbe? vyond the lower periphery of said'sleeve so as to retain-thelowerbearing ring |0| -oi the support-`v 75 the outer jack cylinder has anange |22 engaging the inner vwall of the Jack sleeve 98. lower? endofthe inner ylack cylinder Ill extends"- f through a sealing ring |28having a packinggland |28 therein carried on the lower end of the outerl1 cylinder I8. The inner cylinder has a flange |28 at its upper end,engaging the inner wall of vthe outer cylinder. A suitable stop, hereinconsisting of a ring' |28, is securedI within the upper' end of theouter cylindertor engagementby' the upper end'of the'innercylinder tolimit upward move-y ment of the latter inthe fully collapsed -positionofthejackdevice. f' j f 'y Fluid pressure, as for instance,r oil, isintroduced` intoA the jack device through" a flexible pipe :|21 undercontrol of valves, as usual. `The pipev |21 communicates with the upperends of both cylinders' ||8 and ||9 througha.verticallyy disposed slot|28 formed in the side -wall of the sleeve j 98, so that `flluid'pressure exerted therein will extend "said cylindersany amountdesiredwithin the limitsA of extension ail'rded by both cylinders; f'Itwill be observed thatthe end of the lower cylinder is' slidably mountedrelative 'to the cross brace .I I8, so as to readjust itself `alongvsaidbrace as the conveyor troughl sections 88- and 89 swing verticallylrelative to the transverse pivot rod 19 on which said sec-y tions arehinged. In casey it is 'found that the `friction between' the lowery endofcylinder I'|8 and the'top of cross brace ||8 is too great to permitthe cylinder to slide on the brace, a caster I or j other suitableantifriction member can be mounted on the bottom of the cylinder.l

vThe `supporting bracket 98 of the rear con'-` veyor section.' 89 has anextension wing |80 con-l necte'd at its rearend on a transverse pivotrod |8-I, and the side walls and deck plates of said rear section aredivided along the vertical plane including the axis of said pivot pin,'so as to permit limited downwardly tilting adjustment of the rear endof conveyor section 89, when desired. 'In the form shown herein, the

abutting portions of side plates 98, 88 are flanged outwardly at |82,|82 and are normally connectedv together by bolts |88, |88. To-fadjusttheangle of the rear end of section 89 downwardly on its `pivot rod |8I,the bolts |88 are temporarily re-A moved, and shims of suitable shapeand size v Referring now todetailsof the wheel drive, vthe frontand rearwheels I8 and I8 on each side of the main frame I0 are drivenindependently by motors I85,. |85 in the manner broadly disclosedin thecopending application of Arthur L. Lee bearing Serial No. 383,329,i'lled March 14, 1941, now Patent' No. 2,317,623. Each of said motors ismounted on the outer side of -its respective side frame member 28, nearthe rear of the main `frame,` and is lconnectedfthrough 'a suitable gearreduction in housing |88, and universal coupling |81 to a worm shaft|88l rotat- V ably mounted in the rear drive gear housing 29 previously'mentioned herein as lparts of the mounting for the rear wheels I8(seeFig. 4).

Finally the bolts |88 are rein--I Each worm shaft III has a worm |30thereon, meshed with a worm gear |40 on the shaft which drives theadjacent rear wheel i4.

'I'he front wheel I3 on the same side of the vehicle is similarly drivenby a worm |4| on worm shaft |42 engaging worm gear |43 on the frontshaft. The w'orm shaft |42 is connected to the rear worm shaft |38 by aconnecting shaft |44 and universal coupling |45.

The steering mechanism is operated by fluid means, herein including ahydraulic steering cylinder (not shown) mounted on one of the side framemembers 2l and operatively connected to an upright arm |49 of anL-shaped bell crank lever pivotally carried bya supporting bracket Illat the side of the frame member 20. A similar L-shaped'bell crank leverhaving an upright arm |56 is also mounted on said supporting bracket,but in reversed or opposed relation to the first bell crank lever. Thatis, the horizgntal arms at the bottom of the two levers extend towardeach other with their adjacent ends connected by a'. pin and slotconnection of well known form indicated at |50 in Fig. 2 so that whenone upright arm is swung forward, the other will be swung backward.

'I'he upright arm |49 of the first bell crank lever is connected by rod|59 to a steering arm |60 which controls the steering movement of theadjacent rear wheel i4, while the upright arm |56 of the second bellcrank lever is connected by rod |6| to steering arm |62 of the frontwheel I3.' `The arrangement 'is such that any rocking movement impartedby the hydraulic steering cylinder to bell cranklever arm |48 will betransmitted to the second bell crank lever arm |58 to rock the latter inthe opposite direction, thereby causing the two wheels to be swungsimultaneously at equal angles but in opposite directions. l

The front and rear wheels I3 and |4on the opposite side of the frame areconnected, respectively, with their companion front and rear wheels soas to be swung simultaneously therewith. In the preferred form shownherein, the operativev connections include a compensating arrangement toprovide a slight differential in pivotal movement between the two pairsof wheels. Said .differential connecting devices 4are similar for thefront pair and the rear pair vof wheels, in each case consisting of atie rod |65 pivotally connected at opposite en'ds to lever arms |66, |86rigidly connected to the steering arms of the two opposite wheels. Saidlever arms |86, |86, however, are eachV normally arranged at equalintermediate anglestof the tie rod, as herein'shown, at angles ofapproximately 45. It will be observed that with this arrangement, whenthe wheels areswung to steer the vehicle toward one side, the wheel onthe side toward which the vehicle is steered will be `turned at aslightly greater angle than 'the opposite wheel. Moreover, since the twofront wheels swing one way when thetwo rear wheels swing the other, aspreviously described, it will be understood that the two wheels on theinner side,

fore mentioned, including the cylinders |87, i8 forl umn; and loweringthe gathering hess Il, the cylinders III, il! for-,swinging the rearconveyor section 88 laterally, the lack device for elevating n theconveyor sections 8l and u, and-the cylinder for steering all fourwheels, may receive operating pressure from a pump |68, herein -shown asmounted on'the main framenear the ytransmission casing l5, and drivenfrom the shaft of motor I2. The several valves for controlling thevarious fluid actuating devices namedmay be of any conventional formmounted in convenient position on the operators platform |10 which, asherein shown, is disposed between the front and rear wheels at one sideof the main frame. The corresponding space at the opposite side vof themachine may be occupied by -a box lll containing the usual switches,controllers. and electrical reslstances of theusual form required forthe electric motors 52 and |35, III.

Although the various fluid actuating devices are herein described asbeing hydraulically operated, it will be understood that with suitablemodifications they may be operated by air, if desired.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my inventionmay be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof andthe arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departingfrom thespirlt and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wishto beconstrued as limiting my invention to the specic embodiment illustrated,excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim: n

1. A loading machine conveyor structurecomprising a frame, a dischargeleonveyorextending rearwardly along the frame, said conveyor beingpivotally connected on a transverseaxis near its front end to the frame,the portion of the conveyor behind said pivotal connection being dividedinto two sections, means pivotally connecting said two sections togetheron a vertical axis to enable the rear section to be swung laterally, andmeans carried by the conveyor coaxially of s aid connecting means forelevating said two sections of the conveyor.

2. A loading machine conveyor structure comprising a frame, a dischargeconveyor extending rearwardly along the frame, said conveyor beingpivotally connected on a transverse axis near its front end to theframe,` the portion of the conveyor behind said pivotal connection beingdivided into two sections, means pivotally connecting said two sectionstogether ony a vertical axis to enable the rear section to be swunglaterally, said connecting means including extensible fluid-operatedmeans disposed coaxially'` with said vertical axis for elevating saidtwo sections of the conveyor, and means for maintaining fluid to enablethe rear section to be swung laterally,

said connecting means includingvan open bottom' vertical cylindercarriedby one of said sections, a pair of telescoping pistons slidablymounted in `said cylinder, means supported by said frame on which theinner piston rests, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to`said cylinder to raise it `relative tothe pistons, whereby to elevatesaid two sections'of the conveyor.

4. A loading machine conveyor structure comprising` a frame, a dischargeconveyor extending rearwardly along the frame, said conveyor beingpivotally connected on atransversegaxis near its front to the frameandhaving upper and lower decks,the portion ofthe conveyor behind saidpivotal connection beingA divided intojtwo sections, means pivotallyconnecting the upper decks of said two sections together on a verticalaxis,

- an open-bottom vertical cylinder rigidly connected to the lower deckofoney of said sections in axial augment with said connecting means, avcollar journaled on said cylinder and rigidly connected to the lowervdeck ofy the'other section,

piston means slidably mounted in said cylinder and projecting from itsbottom, means supported to enable the rear section to be swunglaterally,

said rear section being divided into two longitudinally aligned partspivotally connected together on va transverse axis to enable' the rearpart to be tilted downwardly relative tothe front part, adjustable meansfor rigidly connecting said l partstogether, and means carried by theconveyor coaxially f said pivotal connecting means for elevating saidtwo' sections of the conveyor.

6. A loading machine conveyor structure comprising a frame, a dischargeconveyor extending rearwardly along the framasaid conveyor beingpivotally connected on a transverse axis near its frontend to the frameand having upper and lower decks, the portion of the conveyor behindsaid pivotal connection being dividedinto two sections, means pivotallyconnecting said two sectionstogether on a vertical axis to enable therear section to be swung laterally, means carried by thec'onveyorcoaxially of said connecting 8. A loading machine conveyor structurecomprising a frame, adischargej conveyor extending rearwardly along theframe.' said conveyor being pivotally connected on a transverse axisnear its front end to the frame, the portion of the conveyor behind saidpivotal connection being divided into twosections, means pivotallyconnecting said two sections together on a vertical axis to enable therear section to be swung laterally, substantially horizontal iluld,cylinders pivotally connected at their. front ends to the front sectionof the conveyor, pistons in said cylinders pivotally connected .to saidrear rection, means for supplying iluid under pressure to said cylindersto selectively force one of the pistons rearwardly for swinging saidrear section laterally,` and means carried by the conveyor coaxially ofsaid connectingmeans for elevatingsaid two sections of the conveyor. A

9. A loading machine conveyor structure comprising upper and lower deckseach divided into two sections, means pivotally connecting said twosections together on a vertical axisto enable the rear section to beswung laterally, an endless traveling conveyor element movingrearywardly on'the top deck and l forwardly on the bottom deck, saiddecks being widened at the pivotally connected ends of said sections,side walls for the decks having outwardly curved portions extendingalong the sides of said widened portions of4 the bottom deck, the sidewalls for said iront and rear sections of the conveyor being separatedwith a gap .between their vadjacent ends to permit said lateral swingingofthe rear section, and upright flexible plates spanning said gap abovethe top deck and connected to the side walls to keep material fromescaping throughk the side'of the conveyor. s

10. In a loading machineconveyor structure,

a .discharge conveyor and means for. swivelling the rear portion of saiddischarge conveyor'laterally, vsaid swivelling means including .aconcentrically mounted huid-operated elevating d evice affording afluid-cushionedv support for said discharge conveyor relative to, saidmain frame.

11. In a loading machine conveyor structure,

, a discharge conveyor andhaving a section theremeans for elevating saidtwo rsections of the conveyor, the decks of said rear section beingdivided transversely into front and rear parts, means pivoting saidparts of the lower deck togetherl on va transverse axis, and adjustablemeans rigidly connecting together the front and rear parts of the upperdeck. I 7. A loadingmachine conveyor structure comprising a vframe,adischarge conveyer extending rearwardly along the frame, saidconveyorbeing pivotally connected on 'a transverse axis near its frontendl to the frame, the'portion of the conveyor behind said pivotallconnection' being divided into two sections( means pivotallyconnectsectionto swing it laterally, vand means carried by the conveyorcoaxially yof said connecting means for elevating said two sections oithe conveyor.

of pivoted for vertical adjustment relative to said main frame, andmeansior swivelling the rear portion of said pivoted section laterally,said swivelling means including a: concentrically 'Y mounted,fluid-operated, telescopic elevating de' vice affording a duid-cushionedsupport for. said pivoted section relativeto said mainframe.

12. In aloading machine, a supporting frame having anendless dischargeconveyer structure extending therealong having a rear section thereofhaving swivelling means affording lateral kad justment relative toaforward section, said swivelling means including an upright cylindercarried byone of said sectionsabout which the' other of said sections ispivoted, and a huida-operated jackmember telescopically mounted in saidcylinder and disposed in supporting engagement withisaid frame forelevating sai'dconveyor sections.

13. In a loading machine, va .supporting frame having an endlessdischarge conveyer structure Iextending therealong having a rear sectionthere` oi having swivellingfmeans affording lateral adjustment relativeto a forward section, said swivelling means including an uprightcylinder car-y and disposed in supporting engagement with said frame forelevating said conveyor sections.

14. A conveyor structure, comprising a main frame including a pair oflongitudinally extending upright side plates, and a continuous dischargeconveyer structure including bottom and side walls extending along andrearwardly of said main frame, said conveyer structure including aforward section rigid with said side plates yand upright walls alongopposite sides thereof,

16. A loading machine conveyor structure comprising a frame, a dischargeconveyor extending rearwardly along the frame, said conveyor .beingpivotally connected on a transverse axis near its front end to the frameand having upper and lower decks, the portion of the conveyor behindsaid pivotal connection being' divided into two sections, meanspivotally connecting said two sections together on a vertical axis toenable the rear section tcbe swung laterally, an endless travelingconveyor element moving rearwardly on the top deck and forwardly on thebottom deck, said the deck plates at the' ends of both of said sectionsbeing widened at and adjacent the area of articulation, the lowerdeckplates having their respective side walls ilared outwardly alongtheir respective widened end portions, but saidA side walls beingnormally spaced apart at their extreme ends to form an open gaptherebetween to permit lateral swivelling movement of said articulatedsections relative to each other, and the l flared portions of said sidewalls being arranged to anord tangential guiding engagement for theadjacent sides of the conveyer element in all permissible angles ofswivelling adjustment of the conveyer sections relative to each other.

decks being widened at the pivotally connected ends of said sections,side walls for the decks having outwardly curved portions extendingalong the sides of said widened portions of the bottom deck, the sidewalls for said front and rear sections of the conveyor being'separatedwith a gap between their adjacent outer ends to permit said lateralswinging of the rear section, all of said outwardly curved portionshaving substantially the same length and degree of curvature with theirsaid outer ends all spaced substantially theA same distance from saidpivoted connection. and upright flexible plates spanning said gap abovethe top deck and connected to the side walls to EINAR M. ARENTZEN.

